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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

The hidden secrets and scandals of Catherine of Valois

Mental
illness, a cruel childhood, a clandestine marriage, and the secret illegitimate
children of Catherine of Valois makes her one of the most fascinating women of
the 15th century.

Catherine of Valois

Catherine was
one of eight children born to King Charles VI of France and Isabelle of Bavaria.

Isabelle of Bavaria

Mental illness ran rampant in the family. In fact, her father, the king, suffered
from severe schizophrenia. Desperately ill, he was delusional. At times, he
believed he was made of glass and breakable, and fearfully fought off anyone
who dared come near him. Other times, he ranted and raved that he had no wife
and children, running from chamber to chamber in the castle. Sometimes he
believed his enemies were upon him and would be thrashing and fighting off the
invisible foes. But King Charles was not the only one in the family who was
mad. His mother, Joan of Bourbon was unbalanced and became totally deranged after
giving birth to her seventh child. Her father, uncles, and grandfather also
suffered mental maladies.

Catherine’s
mother, Isabelle, was haughty, callous, and openly adulterous to her poor ailing father. She
took advantage of the king’s frailties and seized control of the kingdom from
usurpers. Isabelle was so busy with politics, poor Catherine and her siblings
were neglected. The siblings lived like paupers in miserable surroundings.

King Henry V

Catherine
was then married to King Henry V of England who invaded France. They had one
child, a son they named Henry VI, but her husband died of dysentery before he
could lay eyes upon his heir. When her father King Charles VI died a few months
later, Catherine’s young son became king of both England and France.

Catherine's son

King Henry VI

Fearing that
Catherine would get married and her new husband might wield too much influence
over the infant king, Humphrey
Duke of Gloucester, passed a law that forbid Catherine
from marrying without the consent of the king and council.

Henry Duke of Gloucester

Despite the
law, Catherine fell in love with Owen
ap Maredudd ap Tudor, a handsome Welshman of lower rank. He
was the keeper of her wardrobe and they soon became lovers.

Catherine's Bedchamber

Where she met and fell in love with Owen Tudor

Great scandal arose
when it was discovered she bore three illegitimate children by Owen, turning
the scales of popularity against her for betraying the memory of her late
husband, the king. Yet, Catherine’s affair with Owen continued and she bore him
two more children.

Catherine's Bath

Slowly scandal emerged. Finally,
when she was pregnant with her fifth child by Owen, rumours of a secret
marriage between Catherine and Owen emerged. It resulted in Owen Tudor’s
imprisonment and Catherine’s banishment to Bermondsey Abbey.

Bermondsey Abbey

Distraught
and in shock at the forced separation from her husband and children, Catherine
fell gravely ill and died in disgrace. Secretly, before she died, she relayed
her wishes regarding the care of her children by Owen to her son. A wooden effigy
of Catherine was made for her funeral and survives to this day in the Undercroft
Museum at Westminster Abbey.

Owen Tudor
was arrested soon after her death, but was later acquitted and released. On his
return journey to Wales, he was arrested again. He attempted to escape from
Newgate Jail in early 1438. Eventually, Henry VI moved him to Windsor Castle and
knighted him. He later led the Lancastrian forces at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross
for Henry VI against Edward, Earl of March, the Yorkist claimant to the throne.
But the Lancastrians suffered defeat and Owen was seized and sentenced to
death. Owen, ever hopeful, did not believe he was going to die until the
executioner tore the collar off his doublet with the words, “the head which used to lie in Queen
Catherine's lap would now lie in the executioner's basket". His head
was set on the market cross, where a mad woman combed his hair and washed his
face, setting lighted wax torches round about it.

Poor
Catherine, even in death, scandals plagued her. Even in death, she could find
no peace. Her tomb, made of alabaster, was destroyed during renovations years
later when her grandson, Henry VII reigned as king. To distance himself from the
scandals of illegitimacy his grandmother forced upon his lineage, the king ordered
her memorial to be removed. Something went wrong, however, and the lid of
Catherine's coffin accidentally opened. Her corpse was revealed to the world.
For generations thereafter, the public came to view her corpse, now a grisly tourist
attraction.

Samuel Pepys

In 1669 the
diarist Samuel Pepys kissed the long-deceased queen on his birthday and wrote
about it in his diary:

“On Shrove
Tuesday 1669, I to the Abbey went, and by favour did see the body of Queen
Catherine of Valois, and had the upper part of the body in my hands, and I did
kiss her mouth, reflecting upon it I did kiss a Queen: and this my birthday and
I thirty-six years old and I did kiss a Queen.”

Catherine's
remains were not properly re-interred until the reign of Queen Victoria, when
in 1878 her body was re-buried in Henry V's chantry.

An excellent novel about the life of Catherine of Valois is The Agincourt Bride by Joanna Hickson.

Back Cover

The
epic story of the queen who founded the Tudor dynasty,

told
through the eyes of her loyal nursemaid.

Her
beauty fuelled a war.
Her courage captured a king.
Her passion would launch the Tudor dynasty.

When
her own first child is tragically still-born, the young Mette is pressed into
service as a wet-nurse at the court of the mad king, Charles VI of France. Her
young charge is the princess, Catherine de Valois, caught up in the turbulence
and chaos of life at court.

Mette
and the child forge a bond, one that transcends Mette’s lowly position.

But as Catherine approaches womanhood, her unique position seals her fate as a
pawn between two powerful dynasties. Her brother, The Dauphin and the dark and
sinister, Duke of Burgundy will both use Catherine to further the cause of
France.

Catherine
is powerless to stop them, but with the French defeat at the Battle of
Agincourt, the tables turn and suddenly her currency has never been higher. But
can Mette protect Catherine from forces at court who seek to harm her or will
her loyalty to Catherine place her in even greater danger?

The Bride of Agincourt is a biographical novel about the life
of Catherine of Valois and highlights the events of the battles for and surrounding
Agincourt, France. The story is told through the first person narrative of
Guilliamette, also known as “Mette” who enters Catherine’s life as a wet nurse after
the death of her firstborn. Mette becomes enchanted with Catherine and a strong
bond that will last their entire lives is born. The novel portrays the journey
and struggles each woman faces because of their rank and circumstances, bringing
to life the social standards and expectations for women during the early 15th
century.

From the days of her childhood, to her marriage to Henry V,
to her love affair with Owen Tudor, Mette tells the secrets of Catherine’s life.
She highlights Catherine’s wisdom and intelligence, as well as her beauty and social
skills. Of course, there are a few love stories intertwined to keep the reader
entertained.

With
plenty of intrigue, scandals, and courtly machinations, there is plenty to laud
about this finely written tale. Never boring and highly engaging, this is one
tale of Catherine de Valois’ life not to miss! Highly recommended.

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